Safety razor



May 1 7, 1955 P. H. BORDEN 2,708,310

SAFETY RAZOR Original Filed Nov. 24, 1948 nventor United States Patent O SAFETY RAZOR Philip H. Borden, Stratford, Conn., assignor to Central Industrial Corporation, Memphis, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Original application November 24, 1948, Serial No. 61,811. Divided and this application December 18, 1956, Serial No. 261,351

10 Claims. (Cl. 311-66) t) The principal object of this invention is to provide a safety razor having a new and novel head for carrying a razor blade.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a razor blade carrying head with a handle and means connecting the head to the handle for selective positioning of the head in opposite positions of angularity relative to the handle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety razor with a rotatable head for carrying a double edged razor blade and a handle associated therewith which is disposed angularly to the normal position of said head.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety razor having a blade holding head which includes clamping means adapted to hold a blade upon said head by end engagement of said blade intermediate the longitudinal edges thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a razor blade carrying head having clamp means in which such clamp means are frictionally held in blade engaging position and are adapted for removal from blade engagement to disengage a blade carried by the head.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a clamp means which may be disengaged by retraction longitudinally of the blade carrying head.

A further object of the invention is to provide such retractable clamp means with depending lug or ear portions for accomplishing such retraction.

A further object of the invention is to generally imt prove the design, construction and utility of heads for carrying razor blades; and

A further object of the invention is -to provide a blade carrying head with new and novel movable lclamp means resiliently retained in clamping position and means for moving such clamp means out of clamping position.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of this invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood from the following specication upon reference to the Vaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the'preferred form of razor blade carrying head with a blade in position thereon.

Fig. 2 lis an inverted plan View of the preferred form of head of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a variation of the blade carrying head.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational View of the preferred formof blade carrying head and handle associated therewith.

Fig. 4A is a similar end view partly in section andl .Patented May 1'?, 15955 partly in elevation illustrating details of the parts of the blade carrying device.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational View of the blade carry ing head and handle of the invention.

Fig. 5A is a fragmentary front view thereof partly in elevation and partly in section, further illustrating details of the arrangement of the parts.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a preferred form of blade for use with the blade head of this invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View on an enlarged scale of a ferrule employed in attaching the blade carrying head to the handle of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view, on a similar scale, of the preferred form of blade holding clamp member employed herein.

Fig. 9 is an edge view on a similar scale of the preferred form of blade holding clamp member.

Fig. 10 is an end elevational view of the blade holding head and ferrule engaging clip.

Fig. 1l is a sectional elevation taken on the line XI-Xl of Fig. l0.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals: The razor of this device comprises a blade carrying head 1 for carrying a razor blade 2, which head is attached to and supported by a handle 3. Preferably the blade 2 is of the double edged variety provided with cutting edges 2A and the corners are notched to form end tabs 2B. The handle 3 is preferably angularly oifset to provide an offset upper portion 5, to which is rigidly fixed a hollow sleevelike ferrule 7. The ferrule is preferably elliptic in cross section and at the ends of its major chord is provided with concave grooves, the material of the wall of the ferrule being inwardly deformed by the grooves to provide elongated bosses 9 disposed on opposite sides of the ferrule. The distance between the apices of the bosses 9 is preferably equal to the length of the minor chord of the ferrule ellipse.

The blade carrying head 1 has its opposite edges turned downwardly to form guide bars 11. Preferably the head is slotted adjacent and parallel with the guide bars 11 by longitudinally extending slots 13, which may be formed by die stamping the head and downwardly deforming lug portions 14 thereof, to depend from the respective edges of the slots remote from the guide bars 11. Such downwardly deformed lug portions are preferably folded away from the slots 13 and below the body of the blade head to form retaining flanges 15 which extend longitudinally of the blade head and are preferably co-extensive in length with the slots 13. While it is preferred that the portions 14 and flanges 1S be thus formed integral with and of the material of the head 1, they may, if preferred, be formed separately and attached to the blade head in suitable manner. It is to be noted that the anges 15 extend longitudinally of the head and essentially comprise a ilat portion disposed parallel to and below the head and spaced therefrom.

At each end of the upper side of the blade head 1 a pair of transversely spaced upstanding studs or dogs 17 are formed, preferably integrally with the blade head, and are each provided on their proximate faces with a vertically disposed surface, adapted to engage the notched corners of the blade 2 to prevent displacement thereof laterally of the head, and an opposite arcuate surface. The dogs are respectively positioned adjacent but between the proximate edges of the slots 13. The blade head 1 is further provided with downwardly projecting knob-like bosses 19 which are positioned substantially on the longitudinal center line of the blade head.

Attached to and spanning between the under sides of the flat flange portions 15 is a substantially T-shaped clip 21. The T clip is preferably formed from a single strip-lik member, which is folded back upon itself to form a flat double thickness seat member, the opposite edges of the upper face of which are attached to the respective lugs. Depending from the lower thicknesses of the seat portion are resilient legs 23 which are ldisposed substantially at right angles to the seat portion of the yclip and are normally spaced apart in parallel relation. It will be noted that the width of the legs 23 is substantially less than the width of the seat portion and equals the length of the minor chord of the ferrule 7.

At their lower ends the legs 23 each terminate in a foot 25 which are oppositely extended and are disposed substantially parallel to the seat portion of the clip. It is to be noted that in preferred form the seat portion, including its double thickness, the depending legs 23 and the diverging feet 25 are all formed from a single integral strip and are integrally connected. It will of course be understood that the members may be formed otherwise and integrated in other manner without departing herefrom.

Each of the feet 25 is formed with an arcuate face which comprises a segment of an ellipse corresponding in shape to the interior of the elliptical ferrule and each of the arcuate faces is provided at its mid point with an indentation 27 which is adapted to engage an elongated boss 9 of the ferrule.

The lug portions 1d and flanges 15 form guideways extending longitudinally of head 1 and which are adapted to slidably receive slide members 29, there being one of the members 29 provided for each of the opposite ends of the blade holding head to engage the end tabs of the razor blade 2 to retain the blade upon the head. The members 29 are of a thickness to closely and slidably flt in the space between the flat flange-like portions 15 and the bottom of the blade head 1. The main body 30 of each of the members 29 is of a width to span between and overlap the proximate edges of the anges 15 so that the members are retained within the guideways against vertical movement relative thereto and are slidable thereinto.

' Preferably the main body 30 of each of the slide members 29 is cut away along a majority of its length to provide shoulders 31 projecting from the main body and disposed adjacent the inner end of the main body. At theouter end of the main body of each member 29 a substantially U-shaped, resilient clamp portion 33 is and converges theretoward, terminating in a free end 34, which is adapted to slip over the blade head and an end tab of a blade 2 to clampingly engage such end tab and hold it against the upper face of the blade head 1. Preferably each member 29 is die stamped adjacent its related clamp portion to form a downwardly projecting ear 35 which is disposed substantially at right angles to the main body of the member.

The inner end of the main body 3i) of each member 29 is provided with a tongue 37 lying in the same plane with the main body of theV member and projecting inwardly therefrom, the tongue 37 being preferablyY of a width substantially on the mid line thereof. It will be noted that each member 29, including its main body 30, shoulders 31, clamp portionV 33, ear 35 and tongue 37, is preferably formed of a single integral portion of suitably resilient material. It will be understood that the members may be otherwise formed and integrated in desired fashion without departing herefrom.

If desired abutment members 109 may be attached within the guideways 14, 15 adjacent the opposite ends thereof, these abutments being adapted to be engaged by the shoulders 31 to prevent accidental movement of the members 29 beyond the confines of the guideways. It will be noted that the abutment members 109 are of such size as to permit the free sliding movement therebetween LLl of the cut-away portions of the main body 30 of each of the members 29.

In assembly of the razor, the blade head k1 may be formed with the blade retaining dogs 17 and the clamp retaining guideways 14, 15, as well as the knob-like bosses 19. The T clip 21 is formed and rigidly secured to the under side of the anges 15, preferably by welding. The members 29 may then be inserted in the guideways formed by portions 14 and anges 15, with the tongues 3-7 projected toward the center of the blade head and with the clamp portions 33 overlying the upper face of the blade head. As the members 29 are moved inwardly toward each other the apertures 39 of the tongues 37 engage the downwardly projecting knob-like bosses 19, the resilient tongues yielding suieiently to enable the tongue ends to pass over the bosses to bring the apertures into engagement with the bosses. In this manner the members 29 are retained against undesired outward movement longitudinally of the blade head 1.

In the alternative form illustrated in Eig. 3, a tension spring 139 is provided, being attached at its opposite ends to the respective members 29A, which differ from the members 29 in that the tongues thereof and the bosses are omitted. The spring 139 is adapted to retain the members 29A in clamping position and upon separation of the members and the outward movement thereof lon` gitudinally of the blade head urges return inward movement of the members into blade clamping position.

The ferrule 7 may then be fixed to the offset upper portion 5 of thel handle 3 with the elongated bosses 9 being disposed along the sides of the upper portion 5. The feet 2S of. they clip 21 may then be inserted in the ferrule 7 and the indentations 27 of the feet 25 brought into en gagement with the elongated bosses 9. The clip 21 is moved downwardly until the feet 25 stand solidly on the upper end of the upper handle portion 5. t will be seen that as the width of the legs 23 is equal to the length of the minor chord of the elliptic ferrule 7, the sides of the legs 23 will engage the interior or the ferrule to prevent tilting, or undesired rocking of the blade head relative thereto, the feet 25 engaging the upper end of the handle portion 5 to prevent further tilting movement in a transverse direction, and the engagement of the indentations 27 and. the bosses 9 prevents undesired rotational movement of the head relatively to the handle. It will also be seen that, from the resilient nature of the legs 23, the indentations 27 are urged into yielding engagement with the bosses 9 and when rotational movement of the blade head is desired the legs 23 are adapted to yield to a properly applied turning force to permit the indentations 27 to escape from their engagement with the bosses for a movement of one hundred and eighty degrees until boss engagement is reestablished, the resiliency of the legs urging the indentations into desired anti-rotational engagement with the bosses.

When thus assembled the razor is ready.,t for the reception of a blade 2, which, as will appear obvious, may be inserted by hand by effecting longitudinal separation movement of the members 29, or 29A to the outward release position, placing the blade 2 upon the upper face ofv the head 1 with the notched corners in engagement with the dogs 17 and the cutting edges 2A overlying the slots 13 and disposed for shaving engagement with the beard or hair of a user. With the blade 2 positioned on the blade head 1 and the corners engaged by the dogs 17, return movement of the members 29 may be effected Vby hand or spring` urged return movement of thev members 29A may be accomplished, moving the free ends 34y of clamp portions 33- into overlying clamping relation to the end tabs 2B of the blade 2 and consequently elfecting holding of the blade against the upper surface of the blade head, reestablishing the inward clamping position.

It will thus be seen that the present invention providesY a novel means for retaining a razor blade on the blade mosaic carrying head and that the blade carrying head is attached to the handle in a novel manner. By virtue of the arrangement of this invention, it is, therefore, possible to provide a holder for a single or double edged blade, which positions the shaving edge of the blade at a desirable shaving position in which the blade is inclined relative to the handle. lt further will be seen that a double edge blade may also be disposed at the desirable inclined position, and the head rotated relative to the handle to selectively position the opposite shaving edge of the blade in angular shaving position. It further will be seen that the blade carrying head is provided with movable clamp means resiliently retained in position, and means for effecting unclamping movement of the clamp means.

I claim:

1. A shaving device combination which comprises a razor blade having a longitudinal shaving edge and transverse end tabs, and a blade carrier having a blade contacting face, clamp means slidably mounted on opposite ends of said carrier, said clamp means overlying said end tabs and clamping them to said face, resilient means yieldingly restraining sliding of said clamp means, and limit means carried on said clamp means for engaging said carrier to limit sliding movement of said clamp means and prevent separation of said clamp means from said carrier.

2. A device for detachably supporting a razor blade having a longitudinal shaving edge and transverse ends, which device includes a blade carrying head, having an upper face adapted to receive a said blade, said head having longitudinally extending guideway means secured to its underside, a pair of slide members slidably disposed in said guideways for movement longitudinally thereof, said slide members at their outer ends each having a clamp portion attached thereto, each said clamp portion clampingty embracing a portion of said head and an end of a blade carried by said head, outward movement of said slides disengaging said clamp portions from said blade ends to free said blade for removal from said head, spring means restraining said slides against said outward movement, and limit means carried by said slides for blocking overtravel of said slides after said outward movement to prevent slide separation from said head.

3. A device for detachably supporting a razor blade having a longitudinal shaving edge and transverse ends, which device includes a blade carrying head, having an upper face adapted to receive a said blade, said head having longitudinally extending guideway means secured to its under side, a pair oi slide members slidably disposed in said guideways for movement longitudinally thereof, said slide members at their outer ends each having an upper clamp portion and a lower ear portion attached thereto, each said clamp portion embracing a portion of said head and an end of a blade carried by said head, said ear portions projecting below said head and being adapted upon engagement to eii'ect movement of said slides in said guideways, outward movement of said slides disengaging said clamp portions from said blade ends to free said blade for removal from said head, yieldable means restraining said slides against said outward movement, and limit means carried by said slides for blocking overtravel of said slides after said outward movement to prevent slide separation from said head.

4. A device for detachably supporting a rectangular razor blade having a longitudinal shaving edge, end tabs, and notched corners, which device includes a handle, a blade carrying head mounted on said handle and having an upper face adapted to receive a said blade, said upper face including dogs disposed at the corners thereof to engage the notched corners of said blade, said head having a pair of lug portions secured to and depending from its under side and extending longitudinally thereof in parallel relation, said lug portions being spaced apart transversely of said head, each said lug having an integral iiange portion formed thereon spaced below said rfi i3 head, each lug and its related llange cooperating to form a, guideway extending longitudinally of said head, said guideways being open respectively at their opposite ends and along their proximate edges, a pair of slide members slidably disposed in said guideways for movement longitudinally thereof, a resilient tongue formed on the inner end of each said slide member, each tongue being apertured adjacent its inner free end, a pair of bosses projecting below the under side of said head in the path of said apertured tongues, the apertures of said tongues engaging said bosses when said slides are moved inwardly to restrain said slides against outward movement, said slides at their opposite ends each having a substantially U-shaped clamp portion integrated therewith, each said clamp portion having a free leg converging toward its related said slide and overlying an end portion of the upper face of said head and an end tab of a blade carried by said head in clamping engagement therewith, outward movement of said slides disengaging said clamp portions from said blade tabs to free said blade for removal from said head, each said slide having a downwardly projecting ear attached thereto for eiecting move-v ments of said slides longitudinally of said guideways.

5. A device for detachably supporting a rectangular razor blade having a longitudinal shaving edge and end tabs, which device includes a handle, a blade carrying head mounted on said handle and having an upper face adapted to receive a said blade, said head having a pair of guideways secured to and depending from its under side and extending longitudinally thereof in parallel relation, said guideways being spaced apart transversely of said head and being open respectively at their opposite ends and along their proximate edges, a pair of slide members slidably disposed in said guideways for movement longitudinally thereof, a resilient tongue for ed on the inner end of each slide member, each tongue being apertured adjacent its inner free end, a pair of bosses projecting below the under side of said head in the path ot said apertured tongues, the apertures of said tongues engaging said bosses when said slides are moved inwardly to restrain said slides against outward movement, said slides at their opposite ends each having a substantially U-shaped clamp portion integrated therewith, each said clamp portion having a free leg converging toward its related said slide and overlying an end portion of the upper face of said head and an end tab of a blade carried by said head in clamping engagement therewith, outward movement of said slides disengaging said clamp portion from said blade tabs to free said blade for removal from said head, each said slide having a downwardly projecting ear attached thereto for electing movements of said slides longitudinally of said guideways.

6. A device for detachably supporting a rectangular razor blade having a longitudinal shaving edge and end tabs which device includes a handle, a blade carrying head mounted on said handle and having an upper face adapted to receive a said blade, said head having a pair of guideways secured to and depending from its under side and extending longitudinally thereof in parallel relation, said guideways being spaced apart transversely of said head and being open respectively at their opposite ends and along their proximate edges, a pair of slide members slidably disposed in said guideways for movement longitudinally thereof, a resilient tongue formed on the inner end of each said slide member, each tongue being apertured adjacent its inner free end, a pair of bosses projecting below the under side of said head in the path of said apertured tongues, the apertures of said tongues engaging said bosses when said slides are moved inwardly to restrain said slides against outward movement, said slides at their opposite ends each having a substantially U-shaped clamp portion integrated therewith, each said clamp portion having a free leg converging toward its related said slide and overlying an end portion of the upper face of said head and an end tab of a blade carried by said head in clamping engagement therewith, outward t movement of said slides disengaging said clamp portions vwhich clamps are movable from blade holding positions into positions wherein the blade is released to permit removal of the same from the seat, spring means beneath the seat for normally moving the clamps into their blade holding positions, and a pair of movable operating nene bers beneath the seat connected with the clamps for positively moving the latter against the action oi said spring means from their blade holding positions into their blade` releasing positions, said operating members being conlnected to the outer ends of the respective clamps, and said spring means being connectedA to the inner ends of the respective clamps and closely underlying said seat.

8. ln a safety razor, a head provided with a scat shaped to support a double-edge razor blade in shaving position,

one or more studs projecting upwardly from the seat for interlocking engagement with the blade to index the latter on the seat when positioned against the same, a pair of complementary clamps above the seat movably connected with the head for holding the blade down on the seat, which clamps are movable from blade holding positions into positions wherein the blade is released to permit removal of the same from the seat, spring means beneath the seat for normallytmoving the clamps into their blade holding positionaanda pair of movable operating members beneath the seat connected with the clamps for positively moving the latter against the action of said spring means from their blade holding positions into their blade releasing positions, which operating members are separately movable and are separately connected with the clamps, whereby either of the clamps may be moved independently Vof the other into its blade releasing position, said operating `members being connected to the outer ends of the respective clamps, and said spring means being connected to the inner ends of the respective clamps and closely underlying said seat.

9. In a safety razor, a head provided with a seat shaped t0 support a double-edge razor blade in shaving position, one orimore studs projecting upwardlyV from the seat for interlocking engagement with the blade to index the latter on the seat when positioned against the same, a pair of complementary clamps above the seat movably kconnected with the head for holding the blade down on the seat, which clamps are independently movable from blade holding positions into positions wherein the blade is released to permit removal of the same from the seat, spring means connected to the respective clamps beneath and closely underlying the seat for normally moving the clamps in o their blade holding positions, and a pair of movable ope ating members beneath the seat respectively connecte with the clamps for positively moving the latter agains't the action of said spring means from their blade holding positions into their blade releasing positions, said o erating members being connected to the outer ends of the respective clamps, said spring means extending beneath the seat away from one of said outer ends toward the other said outer end.

l0. ln a safety razor, a head provided with a seat shaped to support a double-edge razor blade in shaving position, a pair of complementary clamps above the seat movably connected with the head for holding the blade down on the seat, which clamps are independently movable from blade holding positions into positions'wherein the blade is released to permit removal of the same from the seat, spring means connected to said clamps beneath the seat for normally moving the clamps into their blade holding positions, and a pair of movable operating members Vbeneath the seat connected with the clamps for positively moving the latter against the action of said spring means from their blade holding positions into their blade releasn ing positions, said operating members being connected' to the outer ends of the respective clamps, and said spring means closely underlying said seat.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 

